Iconic UK haulage firm Eddie Stobart is giving the public a chance to get up close and personal with some of its special trucks when Stobart Fest, a dedicated festival for Stobart fans and the general public, comes to Manchester on 26-27 May.
The free, two-day festival will see 24 of Stobart's top trucks assemble at the Etihad Stadium in an exhibition which runs alongside the Stobart Super League's Magic Weekend of seven rugby league games inside the stadium.
In addition to the famous trucks, Stobart fans will also have the chance to meet a host of star drivers from the company's popular Channel 5 series Eddie Stobart: Trucks & Trailers. The well-known drivers will be around to meet fans, sign autographs and show off the individually named red and green trucks which famously pound the UK's motorways.
Drivers attending include fans' favourite Mark Dixon, lady trucker Fiona Soltysiak, Biomass driver Tim Fox and Edd Stobart - the third generation of the Stobart family.
Fans will be able to purchase a full range of merchandise from the Stobart Shop at the festival and join the official 25,000-strong Stobart Members Club - providing a host of 'truck-spotting' benefits.
There will also be a special prize draw with the winners getting the chance to go on a delivery with their favourite Stobart driver or even jumping the three-year waiting list to name a brand-new Stobart truck.
With Super League's Magic Weekend expected to attract around 70,000 people across the weekend, Stobart will give rugby fans a real treat by bringing along all 15 individual Super League promotional trailers.
In January Stobart became the title sponsor of Super League in a cross marketing deal which saw 100 special trucks, individually branded in each club's livery, hitting the road.
Stobart Fest runs from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 May and entry is free. More details are on the club website: www.clubstobart.co.uk.
William Stobart, Stobart Group chief operating officer, said: "This is a great opportunity for Stobart followers from all over the UK to come along and see the trucks and meet the drivers they've watched on TV. We will have a significant display of Stobart trucks from across our Group activities and, with official club membership figures at their highest for many years, we expect Stobart Fest to be a very popular event."